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Friday, July 3, 2015

Blog Tour Review | Dirty Thoughts by Megan Erickson

BLURB

Some
things are sexier the second time around.

Cal
Payton has gruff and grumbly down to an art...all the better for
keeping people away. And it usually works. Until Jenna Macmillan—his
biggest mistake—walks into Payton and Sons mechanic shop all grown
up, looking like sunshine, and inspiring more than a few dirty
thoughts.

Jenna
was sure she was long over the boy she'd once loved with reckless
abandon, but one look at the steel-eyed Cal Payton has her falling
apart all over again. Ten years may have passed, but the pull is
stronger than ever...and this Cal is all man.

Cal
may have no intention of letting Jenna in, but she's always been his
light, and it's getting harder to stay all alone in the dark. When a
surprise from the past changes everything, Cal and Jenna must decide
if their connection should be left alone, or if it's exactly what
they need for the future of their dreams.

MY
THOUGHTS

High
school sweethearts Cal & Jenna reunite after 10 years apart in
Megan Erickson's DIRTY THOUGHTS. Cal's the bad-boy mechanic from the
wrong side of the tracks who keeps his emotions and relationships in
a numb, manageable box, ensuring he's always in control. He once
allowed his teenage self to dream of a future filled with love and a
family with Jenna which only resulted in his heartbreak when her
brother conspired to rip them apart. Jenna's never loved anyone the
way she did Cal, and when she returns to town to help her family's
business sparks fly once again.

I
really enjoyed Cal and Jenna as a couple. They aren't complete
opposites who seem like they have nothing in common but lust. They
connect on a fundamental level with regards to the way they feel
about family and their attempts to make Asher feel at home. I love a
good 'strong, silent type' hero who still knows how to laugh when you
wriggle your way into his soft, squishy center. And one built like a
mountain to boot is much appreciated. Never has the word 'Sunshine'
been used with such melt-inducing results. Cal does 'dirty' justice,
sometimes with just a look. Seriously, how does Megan Erickson convey
all that sexy by just describing a look? All the applause emojis!

Jenna
was a kind and supportive heroine who didn't come off as a complete
pushover despite her being yanked around a bit by Cal's indecision.
She stated pretty clearly that she could have tried
to tease him more or make him work for it but that it wasn't her
style. She embraced her desire rather than trying to use his passion
to manipulate him, which I can respect. But god damn,
Cal's flip-flopping was extremely frustrating. I think his romantic
gesture at the end exuded the proper level of groveling and
vulnerability so I can't hold it against him in the long run but
really, a girl just wants to know she's enough.

DIRTY
THOUGHTS was made all the better by a hilarious cast of secondary
characters. Brent is Cal's lovable, man-whore of a brother who likes
to stir things up in an effort to reunite the lovebirds. Delilah,
Jenna's outspoken bestie, is a firecracker who takes no guff and
pushes her friend to go after what she really wants. Asher, Cal's
long-lost half-brother, is the MacGuffin bringing
Cal and Jenna into constant contact, the family closer together and
provoking big life changes for the characters. The story really
seemed to pick up when Asher showed up, and his sweet, puppy-dog
persona makes him so endearing you can't help but love him. Megan
Erickson did an amazing job of creating secondary characters you
really want to follow throughout the rest of the series. I can't wait
for Delilah to get her own happily ever after and I'm already
anxiously awaiting DIRTY TALK (Brent's story).

All
in all, DIRTY THOUGHTS is a great 'reunited lovers' contemporary
romance. It has a wonderful balance of dirty and sweet that keeps you
coming back for more and a cast of characters you can't help but fall
in love with. If you're looking for a fun, sexy read then definitely
check it out.

Disclaimer:
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All
thoughts and opinions shared are my own.

Megan
Erickson grew up in a family that averages 5’5” on a good day and
started writing to create characters who could reach the top kitchen
shelf. She’s got a couple of tattoos, has a thing for
gladiators and has been called a crazy cat lady. After working as a
journalist for years, she decided she liked creating her own endings
better and switched back to fiction. She lives in Pennsylvania
with her husband, two kids and two cats. And no, she still can’t
reach the stupid top shelf.